Top Shriner visits the Sahib Temple

Former North Port Shrine Potentate Dave Wheatcroft and North Port Shriner Jack Watson lead the Pledge Allegiance at the head of the North Port table during the March 7 luncheon at Sahib Shrine Temple.

PHOTO BY JESSI SMITH

By JESSI SMITHCorrespondent

Published: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 9:12 a.m.

Last Modified: Monday, March 25, 2013 at 9:12 a.m.

A festive, fez-topped affair took place for Sahib Shriners when Shriners International Imperial Potentate Allan W. Masden of Charlotte, N.C., paid a rare visit to the Sarasota temple.

The luncheon on March 7 was attended by members of the Sarasota-area Shriners community.

As Imperial Potentate, Masden has the highest-ranking office in Shriners International, an organization that includes approximately 300,000 members spread throughout 195 chapters in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.

The Freemasonry-related organization is best known for its network of nonprofit hospitals that cater to children who have burns, cleft lip and palate, orthopedic conditions and spinal cord injuries.

There are currently 22 Shriners Children Hospitals throughout North America that provide full services to all eligible patients younger than 18, regardless of the patients' ability to pay.

Masden noted that Shriners Hospitals provide approximately 33 percent charity care — more than any other nonprofit hospital — and that the organization devotes between $32 million and $38 million a year to medical research.

Shriners International budgeted $843 million to run and upgrade hospitals in Toronto, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Lexington this year.

Masden's visit to the Sahib Temple took place during his week-long trip to Tampa, where the Shriners headquarters are located, for the Shriners' annual Tampa Education Seminar from March 6 to 14.

During his visit in Sarasota, Madsen fraternized with Shriner brothers from the approximately 1,400-member local Shriners community and talked about the challenges and goals of Shriners International.

With membership dropping from nearly 1 million members in 1979 to 300,000 in 2013, Masden said his main concern was membership.

"Who is going to suffer if we can't keep up our numbers?" Masden asked. "It's going to be the children. We need those Nobles and Lady Shriners who volunteer thousands of hours in the hospitals each year. Our hospitals couldn't do what they do without the volunteers."

During the luncheon, the Imperial Potentate presented Sahib Shrine Potentate Bill Zurlo with a tie as a gift of appreciation for his service to the organization and enjoyed a meal with his fraternal brothers, closing with the encouragement that they continue to promote Shriner and Masonic principles in their daily lives.

"Above all, we must promote more family fun, more friendship and more brotherly love," Masden said. "We are the Shriners."

Second Chance seeking donations for Easter event

Second Chance-Last Opportunity is seeking donations of baskets and candy for an uplifting Easter event planned Friday for 150 clients and their families.

Second Chance-Last Opportunity offers life skills classes to strengthen family relationships for people who live in Manatee and Sarasota counties.

Second Chance CEO April Glasco also is seeking financial contributions to help buy Easter hams for the families.

"Donations from the community will give our participants the means to celebrate a holiday together and the opportunity to develop those bonds further," Glasco said in a prepared statement. "Plus, the kids just have so much fun."

<p>A festive, fez-topped affair took place for Sahib Shriners when Shriners International Imperial Potentate Allan W. Masden of Charlotte, N.C., paid a rare visit to the Sarasota temple.</p><p>The luncheon on March 7 was attended by members of the Sarasota-area Shriners community.</p><p>As Imperial Potentate, Masden has the highest-ranking office in Shriners International, an organization that includes approximately 300,000 members spread throughout 195 chapters in North America, South America, Europe and Asia.</p><p>The Freemasonry-related organization is best known for its network of nonprofit hospitals that cater to children who have burns, cleft lip and palate, orthopedic conditions and spinal cord injuries.</p><p>There are currently 22 Shriners Children Hospitals throughout North America that provide full services to all eligible patients younger than 18, regardless of the patients' ability to pay.</p><p>Masden noted that Shriners Hospitals provide approximately 33 percent charity care — more than any other nonprofit hospital — and that the organization devotes between $32 million and $38 million a year to medical research.</p><p>Shriners International budgeted $843 million to run and upgrade hospitals in Toronto, St. Louis, Los Angeles and Lexington this year.</p><p>Masden's visit to the Sahib Temple took place during his week-long trip to Tampa, where the Shriners headquarters are located, for the Shriners' annual Tampa Education Seminar from March 6 to 14.</p><p>During his visit in Sarasota, Madsen fraternized with Shriner brothers from the approximately 1,400-member local Shriners community and talked about the challenges and goals of Shriners International.</p><p>With membership dropping from nearly 1 million members in 1979 to 300,000 in 2013, Masden said his main concern was membership.</p><p>"Who is going to suffer if we can't keep up our numbers?" Masden asked. "It's going to be the children. We need those Nobles and Lady Shriners who volunteer thousands of hours in the hospitals each year. Our hospitals couldn't do what they do without the volunteers."</p><p>During the luncheon, the Imperial Potentate presented Sahib Shrine Potentate Bill Zurlo with a tie as a gift of appreciation for his service to the organization and enjoyed a meal with his fraternal brothers, closing with the encouragement that they continue to promote Shriner and Masonic principles in their daily lives.</p><p>"Above all, we must promote more family fun, more friendship and more brotherly love," Masden said. "We are the Shriners."</p><p><b>Second Chance seeking donations for Easter event</b></p><p>Second Chance-Last Opportunity is seeking donations of baskets and candy for an uplifting Easter event planned Friday for 150 clients and their families.</p><p>Second Chance-Last Opportunity offers life skills classes to strengthen family relationships for people who live in Manatee and Sarasota counties.</p><p>Second Chance CEO April Glasco also is seeking financial contributions to help buy Easter hams for the families.</p><p>"Donations from the community will give our participants the means to celebrate a holiday together and the opportunity to develop those bonds further," Glasco said in a prepared statement. "Plus, the kids just have so much fun."</p><p>Drop-off locations are: Nicole's Salon on Palm, 65 Palm Ave., Sarasota; Nontando, 6530 Gateway Ave., Sarasota; and the Second Chance office, 1933 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Sarasota. Call 360-8660 before stopping at Second Chance. </p><p>Send donations by mail to: P.O. Box 1027, Sarasota, FL 34230. The deadline for donations is Thursday. </p><p>For more information, visit www.SecondChanceLastOpportunity.org.</p>